Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.

Envy is the basis of democracy.

Written laws are like spiderwebs: they will catch, it is true, the weak and poor but would be torn in pieces by the rich and powerful.

Treaties, you see, are like girls and roses: they last while they last.

Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense—nonsense upon stilts.

Sic semper tyrannis! The South is avenged.

I am no courtesan, nor moderator, nor tribune, nor defender of the people: I am myself the people.

Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.

The U.S. presidency is a Tudor monarchy plus telephones.

I am invariably of the politics of the people at whose table I sit, or beneath whose roof I sleep.

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I’m president of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli!